Testing your funding strategy is a crucial step to ensure that it is both attractive and feasible. This is the best way to prepare for real funding rounds and build trust with investors and funders.
You’ve come to the right place if …
- you want to found an impact startup or are already in the middle of it with your team.
- you can clearly identify your target group as well as the problem, solution and impact.
- you have developed a validated prototype.
- you have received initial evidence of the impact of your offer at outcome level.
- you have identified a market for your offering and developed an initial business model.
- have developed and tested a Minimal Viable Product (MVP).
- you can ensure the impact measurement of your solution at the output and outcome levels.
- you have an idea of how your solution is scalable.
- you have developed a financing strategy and a pitch deck.

Not quite ready yet?
Then select the appropriate chapter here
This chapter helps to …
- present your financing strategy to investors and sponsors.
- get feedback on your financial planning.
- adapt your pitch deck accordingly.
This is about the development and implementation of your business model and the financial aspects of your solution.
We deal with the impact-oriented area here.
Mirroring the financing strategy with potential investors
The exchange with experts, targeted feedback from investors and a continuous analysis of the implementation will help you to identify weak points in your financing strategy and optimize it in the long term.
1. get expert opinions
One key step is to talk to experts. Financial advisors or investors can help you to independently evaluate your strategy, check legal requirements and identify weaknesses. With the knowledge gained, you can optimize your planning and ensure that it meets the requirements of the market.
2. test your pitch in front of different target groups
In the next step, you can test your pitch deck not only in front of potential investors, but also in front of stakeholders, your target group and experts from accelerators or incubators . Get targeted feedback on your argumentation and financial projections. The exchange with pitch coaches also offers you the opportunity to improve your presentation techniques and get to the heart of your arguments.
Questions that you can ask investors:
- How do you assess our funding gap and the planned use of funds?
- Are our growth forecasts and financial projections realistic?
- What risks do you see in our business model?
- What additional sources or models of financing do you recommend?
- How do you rate our financing mix and our diversification strategy?
- What milestones or KPIs should we achieve with this financing round?
- What do you think of our valuation and the terms of this financing round?
- How do you rate our strategy for maintaining our competitive position?
- How do you rate our plans to expand our investor base and innovate our financing models?
Monitoring the implementation of the financing strategy
A successful strategy does not end with financing — it must be continuously monitored and adapted.
1. monitor and analyze your key financial figures
Start with a regular analysis of your cash flow. A positive and growing cash flow shows that your strategy is working and your liquidity is secure. Keep an eye on key financial figures such as EBIT, EBITDA or operating cash flow. Compare these values with your targets and industry averages to identify weaknesses or optimization potential.
Check whether you have reached the planned funding targets. Were the necessary funds secured in time? Does the realized financing mix match your original planning? These questions will help you to make adjustments at an early stage and react flexibly to challenges.
Analyze the total costs of your financing, including interest and fees, and assess whether these are in proportion to the results achieved . At the same time, your strategy should be adaptable to respond to market changes or mobilize additional funds if necessary.
You can use the insights gained to continuously improve your financing strategy. Prepare specifically for your financing round — with a convincing story, solid key figures and a clear promise of impact.
Next chapter: Validating the financing strategy and MVP
Ideally, you have now reviewed your financing strategy as well as your minimal viable product (MVP) and the impact (see chapter “Minimal viable product on the test bench: Testing the impact of an impact startup”) checked.
In the next step we bring the two together. This ensures that your solution, your business model and your financing strategy are aligned and ready for the next growth phase.